A Shadow of the Midnight Sun

Summary:
My take on Midnight Sun after reading Stephenie's first chapter...begining with the return from Alaska Chapter 15 posted!---- NEXT CHAPTER...PORT ANGELAS ---- Just a note: This story is getting increasingly difficult, but I will try to update regularly...Edward is just so complicated!

Notes:Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me in any way, shape or form. They are Stephenie Meyer’s fantastic creations and I am only writing this for entertainment purposes, my own and yours if someone else is reading this. In addition, if there is any dialogue Bella is in earshot of, or involved in, it is all Mrs. Meyer’s genius and some of the internal dialogue may be taken from words that Edward will later say or paraphrase to Bella or another character.

6. Weak

The rest of the night went by quietly. I listen to music and stayed out of my brother's minds, if they were talking or thinking about our conversation earlier in the evening I did not want to know about it. Finally, - Since when do I look forward to going to school? - it was time to leave for school. We were a little early but that happened sometimes.

On the way I couldn't help but hear Emmett's constant teasing. Kind of anxious to get to school today, aren't we Edward, can't wait to see your girlfriend. I looked back at him with a sneer, would this ever end?

Alice, sitting next to me, just put her hand on my shoulder and thought just ignore him, him and Jasper will start wrestling or something and he will forget about it. Do you want me to talk to Jasper about starting something with him? She was being generous, she hated when they carried on like wild animals. I smiled and shook my head, it was no use; he wasn't going to let it go.

We pulled into school and parked, as I was getting out of the car I saw her, the reason for my taunting. I deserved it, I thought, what was I thinking giving a human a second thought? Had I really given her a second thought or was it really just curiosity like I claimed?

I didn't have time to think about my questions because I heard something disturbing very close and then I saw it just a fast. Squealing tires, a blue van that was out of control headed right towards...BELLA!

No, not her! My mind raced as I made a split second decision. I raced over and pulled her down to the ground as the van hit the back corner of her truck, her head hit the ground. I could hear the van spinning around coming back towards us. "Not her" I growled softly. I would have to do something more, I put my hands out and my shoulder against the gold car beside us, still shielding her body from the danger, to stop the oncoming vehicle. It was going to crush her legs; I propped up the body of the van quickly and swung her body around towards the parked car next to us. I dropped the van immediately in hopes that no one would notice this display of my talents.

In less than a heartbeat I heard the screaming children, calling Bella's name. I ignored them; I had to make sure she was okay. I was still in control so I knew she was not bleeding, but her head had hit the ground hard, "Bella? Are you all right?" I whispered in her ear, not letting my grip on her up at all.

"I'm fine," her voice was breathless and scared. She began to struggle to sit up. I held her still.

"Be careful, I think you hit your head pretty hard," I loosened up again since I was sure she was conscious.

"Ow," she sounded shocked. This silly girl was surprised she was hurt after a two ton van all but flattened her; she was quite a piece of work.

Trying not to laugh at the ridiculousness of her reaction and of this situation - what had I done, possibly exposed us? - "That's what I though."

"How in the...how did you get over her so fast?" she asked.

I winced. Why couldn't she just be glad I was here, anyone else would just be happy to be alive? I just had to convince her she was wrong. "I was standing right next to you, Bella" I lied easily enough, leaving no room for doubt.

She sat up and looked over at me. She was peering into my eyes, trying to find a hint of the lie I was telling. I moved away from her as the enticing scent overtook me though I ignored it and continue to look at her. I let the worry I felt fill my features, this would be an understandable expression in these circumstances.

She tried to move as the commotion around us became frantic, I pushed her down.

"But it's cold," she protested. I couldn't help but laugh to myself. She was worried about being cold instead of relieved to be alive. Since I wouldn't let her move, she decided she wanted to bring the subject back up of my sudden presents. "You were over there. You were by your car." She had noticed me, my head whirled for a split second, and I brought myself back to reality. She had noticed me and now she did not want to be convinced that I had been near before the wreck.

"No, I wasn't." I put finality in my voice hoping to make her understand.

"I saw you." She was stubborn.

"Bella, I was standing with you, I pulled you out of the way." I told her. I gazed deep into her eyes. I had to convince her it was important, the alternative wasn't something I could live with, not now.

She hesitates as I stared at her hard, "no." She wouldn't be convinced.

"Please, Bella." I was pleading now. I needed her to understand, they were almost to us now and I couldn't have her tell them. I would have to end it before they got to us if she insisted on telling someone her suspicion about me moving too quickly for a human. If I could only see her mind, I could see what she was thinking, see what she saw.

"Why?"

"Trust me," was the only response I could give her now. It would be my last attempt. I readied myself for her argument, I would just have to make it look as though I didn't save her, that the van had hit her in spite of my attempt to save her. If my heart still worked, this thought would have made it stop.

She paused a moment and then answered, "Will you promise to explain everything to me later?" I could live with this. I wouldn't explain, but at least I would not have to kill her here and now. Why does she have to be so difficult? Why couldn't she just be happy I had been here and willing to just accept that I had been here, instead of needing to understand how I got here?

"Fine," the irritation in my voice was unmistakable.

"Fine," she said as a confirmation. My body relaxed, I didn't have to end her life here.

Just in time our conversation had ended as the rescuers moved the van away from us. The paramedics were anxious, expecting to find a disaster. When they saw us sitting side by side on the ground they were relieved. Stretchers were brought over to carry us out on; I calmly stood up and waved them off. Bella tried to do the same but I insisted since she hit her head, and possibly because I realized this would irritate her as well - serves her right for being so stubborn.

Standing in the open, leaving Bella's side for the first time in what seemed like hours I suddenly heard the familiar voices of my family.

What are you thinking! Alice was upset, she liked it here. I wanted to finish school here, now we have to figure out something else. Why didn't I see this!? She was searching her visions trying to find an answer; I didn't have time to see if she found it.

Edward, I can't believe you, you didn't want to like her, I can't believe you are this weak...it would have been over...Rosalie knew, obviously. I looked over at Emmett.

He shook his head. Now that was stupid, exposed over a stupid crush...

Only Jasper had any sympathy at all. Poor Edward was all he thought again.

They were right of course, I was weak. If I had just let this happen, let Isabella Swan be hit by a van, ending her life, her enticing blood and intriguing mind would have no longer been an issue. We never intervene in the lives of humans, it was too dangerous, we could be exposed.

Bella had promised, I thought to myself. But since when did a promise mean anything to a human? I knew I couldn't trust it, I knew I had messed up.

The EMT wanted me to go to the hospital; I wanted to go there too. I needed to talk to Carlisle. Bella scowled at me as I walked past her being put in the back of the ambulance on the gurney with a neck brace on. I did not look at her; I quickly took my place in the front of the cab to await our departure.

My thoughts raced through the events of the morning. Why had I interfered? It was fate. She was supposed to die. Someone as fragile and weak as her could not live long in the world. More than that, the smell of her blood, that had spelled her doom. She was dead on that day. My will had been the only thing that kept her alive, and here I was again, saving her from her fate.

I had to talk to Carlisle; maybe he would have an answer. I would have to tell him everything now, admit my weakness to my father.